Shutter mechanism



NOV 9, 1948` A. J. BACHELDER ET AL 2,453,180

SHUTTER MECHANISM Filed Nov. 9, 19,45 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 T ORNEYS Nov. 9, 1948. A. J. BACHELDER Er A1. 2,45`89 SHUTTER MECHANISM Filed NOV. 9, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 9, 1948 SHUTTER MECHANISM` Albert J. .Bachelden Lexington, andttofE. Wolff,

(Jamlnirige,Y Mass., assgnorsf to Polaroid Gorporation, Cambridge, Massi,

Delaware a. corporation of Application-,November 9, 1945; Serial No. 627,745

5 ,Claims.

The invention concerns camera shutter-mechr anism applicable as tocertain features tOcameras in 1 general .and having further featureswhichare particuarly directed to the-operation of cameras having two exposure aperturessuchas a stereoscopic camera.

Inthe moregeneral aspects noted; the invention proposes an improved arrangement forA controlling the operation of a camera, either for automatic instantaneous exposures or for time exposures and for pre-setting vthe camera for the desiredcharacter'of operation. For this purpose, the mechanism embodiesa simple double latch,means,rone of Which is. effective -to restrain the shutter operating mechanism in a cocked or energized position, adapted upon tripping thereof automatically to open andthenclose Athe shut-ter or shutters, thesecond latch beingfadaptedhowever, to be electively-pre-s-etto ;a,pos itionvwhereby upon release of.v the rst latch the Operatingl mechanism engages with the second. latch. and is,restrained'thereby-in.the shutter open position for a timeexposure until themeohan-ismis man;

.ually released1 from the second latch. The organization also incorporates means `whereby.- the time interval of these-calledl automatic-instan,- taneous` exposure :may be adjusted Within llimits.

The mechanism embodies features rendering it of particular advantage inthe simultaneous operation ofv spacedshutters for binoculan int struments, particularly, stereoscopic cameras. The complete arrangement includes in this re,- spect a pivoted lever andl associated meanswfor rocking` it, the lever having connections for op-,-

erating both shutters in exact timed relation.

The mechanism is Well balancedand relatively free of inertia or friction and constitutesa simple, reliable means for operating the shutters simultaneously and Without variation exceptin so far as the exposure interval is purposely adjusted, the mechanism being Well adapted and fully responsive to such adjustments.

These and other objects will be made more apparent from the detail discussion, and the invention comprises the features of construction,

combination of elements, and arrangementof parts which Will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scopeof which invention Will be indicated in the claims.

In the detailed description to follow, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan View` or thestereoscopic camera, with the top of the casing `broken away and the optical system removed;

Fiaf 2 1 is: a plan View off the; ont-i adapted to hoginsertedi .thefc go Fig. 3 is a rear View; nelevatiQn-,ofyth ooi/en with@ the l;optical..rneolianisin of Fien; 2.52112- chedftheretfr;

Fis;e 4;. is .anlenlaiaed View, in, elevation effin? shutterY mechanism `lookinefinto; the .Conieiaifroin theifront, ,vzithffthe ontioal;assomblnionioredk Eis: 5 is a fragmentary `Viewis irnilarfto[Fie:ci,

within@shntterfrnoonanism;iniononooolseo nooicamera embodying-tho; invention is; int-Elie- 1, taken together with Fig. 2. Fig. 1xr showsth inain` oasineri0. a.nd Fie- Zinthe frontplate; Il` therefor; to whichv are attached variousfparts constituting theontioal-.sysiom- A-lm Chamber is shovvnattherearfo` themain casing 'n.lig.; 1, harinathefrosooctivesnacod openinesfll, and I3 for simultaneously exposing spaoeo-,:frarne.s.eo: tionsof` thelfilrn i4 Which: is., suspended), between themas-pools, l5; and L6.` anv-snitabiamanner- The optical system. vai-y4 in. oonstniotion andvfir-raneement,. the. one, selected for.. illustrare tionherein., forminow uneAV subject-.matter portiere latir: Claimed the oonendins anni mationr of Edwin H.-Land,.e1bort J.Baohe. 1dor. andiOtto. E- W011i. Serial No.. 621Mo, lodoonourrenily/horewith. The general, features iii-.clude a my. oon..- vereinev system. Comprising, a nairf oi rotatable mounts IS;v and. L9l Carmine ontioaliwodees. or prisms. symmetrically arranged in., the?, respectivo mounts-Which in tur-.n are symmetrically located in the iront-platerh Thernounts, Iliana I3 are adaoted.- to,loo-notatoo1fsirnunaneously.1andv inf-op,- nosite dinooiionsthronelntnefinediulnioi a Cable connection. 211,. occupying.v grooves inpertions of the Ymounts it andi i9` vextondinarea.rv/anilv..of thelnlate imno-Cable beine, .o.ro.s s.o.d,betone n-1i no mounts, as shownfoaittioularir-in niet., Looateo rearwardly of tnezoonvoreine. inoohanismis, aliens board or fraineft providedA withA a. sleevefllo which yis slidablv` mounted. on, thefpost @esteemed at its` ferner-fi.v ond.r inthe plaiell-I ansiflhavine a support at` its rear; end in an opening .21d of an, intermediate cosinepant, (seejFie. D.. The lens boa-ro v2.4 carriesapairon hoiisines wenn 25 *containing mat-@hed l-objective.-lon,,sos 2.4L and 21' symmetrically located withA respect to; the prisms. ldand-I l 9a., asE shown. inF-ie,v 3, andihayfing their axes parallel to each other and parallel to the axes of rotation of the two prism mounts. Focusing of the objective lenses is accomplished through adjustment of the lens board 2| on the post 22. This adjustment is effected simultaneously and in consonance with the adjustment of the convergence of the rotary prisms by means of annular cams |81) and |913 comprising flanges on the rear portions of the respective prism mounts 8 and I9. Fixedly secured with respect to the lens board 2| are a pair of spaced cam followers or ngers 26 and 29 adapted to bear against the rear edges of the arcuate cams |819 and |95 respectively. The elements 28 and 29 are maintained in Contact with the cams through the compression spring 3i] located between the lens board 2| and a ring 3l xed adjacent the rear end of post 22. A felt washer 32 may be provided to insure against ltering of light around the post 22 into the nlm compartment. A notch "33 in the lens board 2| receives a pin 34 secured in the casing which restrains the lens board from rotation about the post 22.

-As here shown, diaphragms for the lenses and the adjusting means therefor are directly assoy'ciated with the lens barrels 24 and 25 and form vva part of the unit shown in Fig. 2. Details of the lens diaphragms are omitted, since they form no part of the present invention, but, in general, they are shown as located intermediate components of the respective objective lens means and have voperative elements 40 and 4| linked together by bar 42. At its central portion, bar 42 is provided 'with a pin 43 which is received by the notched end of an arm 44 secured on a shaft 45 which extends through the iront plate and is provided with an operating finger 46 which moves over a suitable scale on the front surface of the front plate.

The camera includes a range finder system v which may vary in character and location, but,

as here shown, is in general mounted on the front panel For this purpose, the lower part of the panel |l has secured thereon a bracket 48 vwhich carries an inclined mirror 49 in association 'with the prism lila and an inclined mirror 50 similarly associated with the prism |9a, the latter l'mirror being one-half the height of mirror 49. An

eye-piece 5| is shown mounted in the extension 48a yof bracket 43 in appropriate relation to the mirrors 58 and 49. It will be noted that adjust- 'ment of the object field, as determined in the range finder means through rotation of the prisms |8a and |9cz, effects simultaneously a proper focusing of the lenses 26 and 21 and the eld of convergence of images transmitted thereto by the'prisms |8a and |9a. A suitable view nder 52 may also be associated with the range finder as indicated generally in Figs. 2 and 3.

The shutters and operating mechanism therelfor are mounted in the main casing I0 adjacent thefront wall 60 of the lm compartment. The general relation of the elements comprising the operating mechanism for the shutters is shown v'particularly in Fig. 4. The shutters 6| and 62, which may be of a conventional form, are secured yto the front oi the wall 60 of the film compartment and are linked together by a bar 63 pivoted fat 64 on `a bracket 65 which in turn is secured :to the wall 6i) of the casing. The shutters are 'urged to the normally closed position by suitable means such as the springs 6|a and 62a. Also secured on the bracket 65 is a latch lever 66 pivoted at its midpoint on a pin 61. Mounted adjacent and forwardly of the lever 66, in Fig. 4,

is a supplemental latch lever 68 slidably mounted with respect to the lever 66 through the medium of slots 69 and 10 in the lever 68, the slot 69 engaging around the pivot pin 61 and the slot 10 receiving the pin 1| xed in a block 12 which is secured to the lever 66 and is likewise pivoted on pin 61. The slidable lever 68 forms part of the control mechanism in conjunction with the operation of the camera for time exposures, as will be described more in detail hereinafter. For the present, it is noted that longitudinal adjustment of the lever 68 with respect to lever 66 is eiiected by means of a manually operated finger-piece 14, shown above the casing in Fig. 4, secured to a shaft, the lower end of which has secured thereto an arm 15 with a right-angle portion 16 engaging between .pins 11 and 18 ixed on slide bar 68. Rotation of the finger lever 14 adjusts slide bar 6'8 to the position shown in Fig. 5, a suitable scale being provided on the casing to indicate the adjustment.

A spring engaging over lever 66 urges it in a clockwise direction to the latched position shown in Fig. 4. Mounted in the casing at the upper lefthand corner is a button 8| connected to a pin which carries at its lower end a contact button 82 which is adapted to engage the pin 1| secured on the lever 66. Depressing the button 8| rocks the lever 66 in a counter-clockwise direction against the force of spring 80. Pivotally mounted at 84 on the bracket 65 is a bellcrank 85 having an upstanding latch arm 86 and a horizontally extending arm 81. Spaced behind the arm 86, in Fig. 4, and rigidly associated therewith is a cam arm 88 adapted to rock with the bellcrank about the pivot 84. The arm 81 of the bellcrank has pivoted thereon a latch member 89, located in a plane between the cam lever 88 and arm 86 of the bellcrank and urged by spring 90 in a counter-clockwise direction, being limited in its movement in that direction by stop 9| located between the spaced arms 81 and 88. The lower end of the latch lever 89 is adapted to engage a pin 92 secured on the shutter lever 63. Bellcrank is normally urged in a clockwise direction by the coil spring 94. Movement in the opposite direction for cooking of the shutter mechanism is effected by pulling the button 95 located on the left side of the casing which is connected through a stiff wire member 96 to the arm 86. Preferably the button 95 is spring urged to the right in accordance with well known means and is connected to the wire 96 through an offset arm 91 (see Fig. l) which is free to slide to the right along the wire upon release of the button.

A resum of the operation of the mechanism will be given below, but for the moment it is pointed out that the mechanism is shown in Fig. 4 in cocked position for an automatic instantaneous exposure, the interval of which is controlled by a time delay clock mechanism engaged by the cam arm 88. Such time delay mechanism may vary in construction. a suitable means for this purpose, which is illustrative only, being shown particularly in Fig. 6, with some further details appearing in Figs. l and 4. In general, the mechanism shown includes a train of gears mounted between the spaced plates |99 and IUI. Shown farthest to the right is a gear |02 which meshes with a smaller gear |63 which has ro- `tatable therewith a gear |94, the latter gear meshing with a pinion |05. Rotatable with pinion |65 is a star wheel |06 which engages with an escapement member |01 adapted to oscillate about a pin |08. A spring means of any suitable `automatic exposure interval.

.automatic time interval exposure.

type, suchas shown at |209", is adaptedttoi operate on the-gear train, urging gear |02 inea clockwise shown in Fig. v4, is .adapted'tobe lenga-ged fby cam 'arm 88` when the latter -moves to the right.

end a cam ||4 adapted to engage at its periph- Y ery an upstanding pin ||'5 secured on alever H6, the lever being pivoted at lill ona bracket ||8 secured to the Wall 6D of the casing. The opposite end of lever HS has a rigid wire connection ||9 to the adjustable lever |I|. The lever ||6 is normally urged in a counter-clock- Wise :direction (see Fig. vl), as limited by the engagement of pin H5 against the edge ofv cam H4, by a Wire spring |28.. It will be seen that the initial position of gear |62 and consequently l of the pin l l thereon is determined by the'position of the lever Whichfin" turn is determined bythe position of the button |'|2.

The operation of the shutter mechanismwill now be described, iirst as an instantaneousor For thispurpose, the slide bar :68 is adjustedl by the finger lever '.'4 to the left and occupies the position shownfgenerally in Fig. 4. To cock the shutter `mechanism, wire rod 58 is pulled. left bybutton 95 which rocks the bellcrank 85 and the cam arm 88 counter-clockwise. Because oi its pivotal support on the arm 81, the lower end of latch lever 89 passes by pin 92 on bar 63. The right-angle lug 85a on arm B6 is latched under trip lever B. Also, as shown in Fig. 4, as the cam arm 88 rocks to the left, it releases pin ||U on gear |82, permitting the latter to rotate clockwise until it engages the stop arm The mechanism is now energized for automatic opening and closing of the shutters for exposure. Depressing button 8| disengages latch 6E from lug 850 which permits bellcrank 85 and cam arm 88 to move clockwise. In so doing, the lower end of latch lever B8 engages pin =92, causing it to rock leverl |53 clockwise, which opens the shutters and the point 89a. passes the pin 92, the bar 53 returns to the position shown in Fig. 4 under the action of the normal spring means embodied in the shutters, and the shutters quickly close. The time interval in shutter closing is governed by the position of pin HU. The farther to the left that pin ||0 is positioned when the shutters are in cocked condition the sooner it is engaged by cam arm 88 and the farther the cam must push pin ||0 which is slowed up in its movement by the time delay mechanism connected to the gear |02 on which pin ||0 is mounted. This mechanism as illustrated and as described previously herein comprises thegear train |62, |03, |04 and |05, the gear |05 having rotatable therewith the star wheel |06 which engages the oscillatable escapement member |08 operating and functioning in the usual manner.

For a time exposure the slide 68 Will be set in its extreme position to the right, as shown in Fig. 5. Assuming that the shutter mechanism is rst cocked or energized as shown in Fig. 4, upon depressing button 8|, the bellcrank 85 and this movementlthe lower-end of leverf 89 will; have A.engaged.pini S2 l'everf63` vto theposition shown wherein theishuttersareheld' open. Upon release -ofxbutton 8| attthefendiof"the. desired exposurepspring will: rockflbar` 68Y clockwise,

releasing lliellcrankV 85; causing 1 the lower i endoi lever 89 to move to the left, releasingpinz and shutter fbar 63 and uipermitting".thesshutters to close..

The: shutter:mecl'iarrismy has' been d'escribed..as

controliedtbyfbuttonf|. Itgisialso adapted, how-- fever, to bercontrolledzlin asimilar manner: byeJ bulb `:or rfcabl'e attachment'. Vclearly inf! l!i`g."7,:.a.y screw socket |2| l.is provided thefca'sing-f for connecting' the.: bulb: 'tube or r the cablefwith;amopeningifor;aglpin. toengage against `ther-.block 1.2: toxrockrthef levers; 6 6-. and; 6'8 inthe samemannenas `with' .button-8| Since certain 'changes may tbe: made `the above construction.: and dili'erentzembodiments: of

the invention ycou'l'dfv be made "without :departing "from'Lthe-scope thereof, fitv is intended that all matter contained in fthe above .description or rshawn .in the accompanying drawings vshall be Yinterpreted"'as illustrativel andmnot: in `ar limiting sense. Asia. particular example inthis respect, reference in the "specification and claimsltoa 'f'tnne".exposure is` intended toincllide any exposure `which is 'not instantaneous, and Aspecifi'- caiiy such iexposures .as are commonly 'desig- Having described our inventiomlwhat Weclaim 1. In a binocular camera, a pair of spaced shutters normally urged by elastic means to a closed position, a pivoted lever connected to said shutters and capable of rocking movement to open both said shutters simultaneously, actuator means movable in a predetermined path and adapted in said movement first to engage a part arranged to rock said lever and thereby open said shutters and then to release said part permitting said elastic means to close said shutters.

2. In a stereoscopic camera, a pair of spaced shutters of the iris diaphragm type normally urged to closed position and each having an oscillatable operating member, a lever pivoted intermediate said shutters connected to each of said members, a pivoted actuator means, spring means for urging said actuator in one direction, means for moving said actuator in a direction opposed to said spring means, releasable stop means for restraining said actuator in energized position, a one-way acting latch carried by said actuator operative on said lever during movement of said actuator by said spring means rst to rock said lever temporarily to an open shutter position and then release it, and a time delay mechanism to restrain said latter movement of said actuator thereby to predetermine the interval said shutters remain open.

3. In a binocular camera, a pair of spaced shutters each normally urged by elastic means to a closed position, a pivoted lever connected to both said shutters to open them simultaneously, actuator means movable back and forth in a predetermined path, spring means for urging said actuator in one direction, manual means for shifting said actuator means to a cocked position against the force of said spring, releasable stop means for restraining said actuator in cocked position, and an intermediate selectively operable means carried by said actuator and positioned to contact said lever, said intermediate selectively operable means being pivoted on said actuator means so that it is automatically displaceable to ineffective position upon. movement of said actuator to the cocked position and posi-- tively effective upon reverse movement of said actuator to rock said. lever to open said shutters and then to release said lever to permit the shutters to close.

Li. in a camera shutter mechanism, a shutter including spline`r means for normally urging it to closed position and an operating element to open it, a movable actuator means for said operating element, spring means for urging said actuator means in one direction, means for moving said actuator means in the opposite direction against the force of said spring means to a cocked position, means including a pair of spaced latch elements for restraining said actuator in cocked position against the action of said spring, said actuator means having catch positioned thereon to advance between said latch elements upon movement of the actuator means in said opposite direction and to be engaged by a first one of said latch elements and upon release therefrom to advance under the pressure of said last-mentioned spring means into engagement with said second latch element, and a selectively operable detent pivotally carried by said actuator automatically displaceable to ineffective position upon movement of said actuator means to said cocked position but positively eiective upon said opposite movement to engage and operate said shutter opening element.

5. In a stereoscopic camera, a pair of spaced S shutters normally urged to closed position and each having an oscillatable operating member, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends between said shutters and connected to each of said members, a pivoted actuator means, spring means for urging said actuator in one direction, releasable stop means for restraining said actuator in energized position, a one-way acting latch carried by said actuator and operative on said lever during movement of said actuator by said spring means first to rock said lever to a position wherein it opens said pair of shutters and then to release it, and a time delay mechanism capable of restraining the movement of said actuator for a predetermined time to prevent the release of said lever by said latch and thus cause said pair of shutters to remain open a predetermined time interval.

ALBERT BACHELDER. OTTO E. WOLFF.

The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 366,947 Fox July 19, 1887 372,857 Lewis Nov. 8, 1887 2,331,569 Pirwitz Oct. f2, 1943 2,333,820 Riddell Nov. 9, i943 2,385,804 Fitz Oct. 2, i945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 524,335 Great Britain Aug. 5, 194i) 

